The Story of Grace | Ephesians 2:1–10
The Story of Grace | Ephesians 2:1–10
December 24, 2012
Book: Ephesians
INTRODUCTION
One of the core teachings of the Bible is salvation. Paul makes it plain: we are saved by grace through faith, not by our works.
As we come to Ephesians 2:1–10, we must ask three honest questions:
Why do we need salvation?
From what are we saved?
What does salvation by grace truly mean?
Ephesians 2:1-10
1As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—9not by works, so that no one can boast. 10For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Theme: Salvation by grace through faith—resulting in a new life of good works.
Key Verse: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God…” (Ephesians 2:8–9)
Context Recap
Ephesians 1:3–14: A breathless outburst of praise—God’s saving plan in Christ.
Ephesians 1:15–23: Paul’s prayer—spiritual wisdom, revelation, and the greatness of Christ’s power.
Now in Ephesians 2, Paul shows us a “before and after” picture of life without Christ and life in Christ.
Overview of the Passage
This section divides naturally into two movements:
1. Our past condition (Ephesians 2:1–7)
2. God’s work of salvation and its purpose (Ephesians 2:8–10)
Paul first describes the darkness so we will feel the wonder of the light.
I. The “Before” Picture: What We Were Without Christ; Eph. 2:1–3
“As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins…” (2:1)
Paul describes four realities:
1. Spiritually Dead
This is not physical death; it is spiritual lifelessness—separation from God, incapable of saving ourselves.
This goes back to the warning in Eden:
“When you eat from it you will certainly die;” Genesis 2:17
Sin didn’t just make humanity “weak.” It made us dead—separated from the life of God.
Application:
Do you see sin as a “small mistake,” or as something that separated you from God and required divine rescue?
2. Captive to the World
“…when you followed the ways of this world…;” Eph. 2:2
The world here means the fallen system—its values, ideologies, pressures, and scripts for life apart from God.
As one commentator notes, it is the unhealthy and ungodly environment—peer pressure, systems, and ideologies, that trains people to live apart from God’s purposes. (Clinton E. Arnold, Ephesians, p. 143)
Application questions:
Is my life being shaped more by culture or by Christ?
Do I accept what society celebrates even when Scripture warns against it?
Examples to apply carefully:
corruption, dishonesty, bribes
marriage and divorce shaped by convenience, not covenant
sexuality shaped by culture, not Scripture
parenting shaped by trends, not truth
money shaped by greed, not stewardship
3. Controlled by the Flesh
“…gratifying the cravings of our flesh…’” Eph. 2:3
The “flesh” is our fallen nature—self-rule, sinful desires, and inward rebellion.
Galatians 5:19–21 lists works of the flesh (sexual immorality, impurity, hatred, rage, drunkenness, etc.). The flesh promises freedom but produces slavery.
Application:
What appetite or desire has power over you?
Do you need Christ not only to forgive you, but to free you?
4. Under the Influence of Evil Spiritual Powers
“…the ruler of the kingdom of the air…;” Eph. 2:2
Paul teaches that life without Christ is not neutral. There are spiritual forces at work in the world.
“The whole world is under the control of the evil one’” 1 John 5:19
Application:
Salvation includes deliverance from the domain of darkness—not only forgiveness of guilt, but rescue from bondage.
The Consequence: Deserving Wrath
“…we were by nature deserving of wrath.” (2:3)
Sin is not only sickness; it is guilt before a holy God.
“…you are storing up wrath… for the day of God’s wrath…” (Romans 2:5)
Transition:
This is the bleak “before” picture: dead, enslaved, controlled, and under wrath. But then come two of the greatest words in the Bible:
II. The Turning Point: “But God…;” 2:4
“But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy…;” Eph. 2:4
You could summarize the gospel here: We were helpless, but God intervened.
The Character of God: Rich in Mercy
God is rich in mercy. He has a storehouse of compassion for the undeserving.
“While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)
III. The “After” Picture: What God Has Done For Us; Eph. 2:5–7
Paul lists God’s saving actions:
1. God Made Us Alive With Christ
“made us alive with Christ…” (2:5)
This is resurrection language—God gives spiritual life to the dead.
2. God Raised Us Up With Christ
“And God raised us up with Christ…” (2:6)
3. God Seated Us With Christ
“…and seated us with him in the heavenly realms…” (2:6)
Paul intentionally parallels what God did for Christ (Eph. 1:20) with what God did for us (Eph. 2:5–6). The gospel unites us to Christ—His victory becomes our standing.
Result:
We were once a display of death; now we become a living display of God’s grace.
“…to show the incomparable riches of his grace…” (2:7)
IV. The Heart of the Gospel: Grace Through Faith (2:8–9)
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith… it is the gift of God—not by works…” (2:8–9)
What Grace Means
Grace is God’s unmerited favor—God’s kindness to the undeserving because of Christ.
What Faith Means: Faith is trusting Christ—resting in what He has done, not what we do.
What Salvation Is Not
It is not by works, so no one can boast. (2:9)
Pastoral application:
Religion says: “Do, and you might be accepted.”
The gospel says: “In Christ, you are accepted—therefore live.”
V. The Purpose of Salvation: Good Works Prepared by God; Eph. 2:10
“For we are God’s handiwork… created in Christ Jesus to do good works…” (2:10)
Salvation is not from works, but it is for works.
Good works do not earn salvation; they express salvation.
APPLICATION
If grace has saved you, grace will also shape your lifestyle.
The question is not “Do I do good works to be saved?”
But: “Because I am saved, am I walking in the works God prepared?”
ILLUSTRATION
John Newton, once involved in the slave trade, later became a minister and testified that he was “preserved, restored, pardoned” by the mercy of Christ. Out of that story came the hymn “Amazing Grace.” His life stands as a testimony: grace can rescue and transform the worst sinner and turn him into a servant of Christ.
(Jonathan Aitken, John Newton: From Disgrace to Amazing Grace.)
Life Application Points:
1. Christ saves us from the ways of the world.
Are culture and peers shaping you more than Scripture?
2. Christ saves us from the cravings of the flesh.
What appetite controls you? Where do you need freedom?
3. Christ delivers us from the power of the evil one.
Do you live as someone rescued, or still fearful and bound?
4. We are saved by grace through faith.
Lay down boasting, guilt, and self-salvation projects—rest in Christ.
5. We are saved for good works.
Ask: “Lord, what works have You prepared for me in this season?”
Live the ‘after’ picture, not the ‘before’ picture.
Are you walking as a child of light, or returning to old patterns?
Closing Exhortation:
Salvation to lifestyle:
“You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light;“ Ephesians 5:8
We are Saved by grace, now walk wisely.